Bay County could get $500M in FEMA money soon

Friday

Bay County could soon receive $500 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Hurricane Michael recovery spending, state Sen. George Gainer said on Friday.

PANAMA CITY — Bay County could get $500 million in federal money soon for Hurricane Michael recovery, state Sen. George Gainer said on Friday.

Gainer said getting the money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency was just a matter of local officials finishing the appropriate paperwork at this point. Almost any uptick in federal dollars would be welcome news for area governments that are hundreds of millions of dollars in the hole from hurricane recovery spending.

“FEMA is fixing to send out another $500 million over here,” Gainer said of Bay County. “I figure within three months from when they’ve completed the paperwork, they’ll turn around the money.”

Gainer was the keynote speaker for the Bay County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Industry Appreciation Celebration at Florida State University Panama City on Friday. Gainer spoke on the state Legislature’s and local officials’ work to help with recovery from the Category 5 storm that hit more than 11 months ago. Gainer’s speech was followed by the presentation of several awards to area businesses for their accomplishments during the past year.

“Things are getting better … people are conscious over there of what we need over here,” Gainer said of the Legislature. “We’re in the hearts and minds of so many people … as long as we keep doing things right, I think we’ll be alright.”

To date, FEMA reimbursements to governments in the county for hurricane disaster recovery spending have been few and far between. For example, the Bay County Commission and the Panama City Commission each face bills in the hundreds of millions of dollars for debris removal and rebuilding costs.

Gainer said FEMA was sending representatives to help local officials finish and file their reimbursement paperwork faster so more money could soon be distributed.

After Gainer’s speech, the chamber presented industry awards to five companies in recognition of their various achievements.

GKN Aerospace received the business expansion award for expanding, investing and creating jobs in the county over the past year. ARC Contracting received the chamber’s newcomer award, which is given to distinguished companies that have located to the area in the last five years.

Trane, which makes air conditioning units in Lynn Haven, received the manufacturer of the year award. The chamber awarded Quality Gates and Openers with its small business of the year award.

The Bay County tax collector office received the innovation award for using new software and other technology to improve customers’ experience.

“Our office is very high volume, so it’s critical we find innovative ways to shorten wait times,” Chuck Purdue, county tax collector, said after accepting the award.

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